Liverpool’s blockbuster summer of spending shows no sign of abating as the club looks to be close to sealing a deal for Eintracht Frankfurt star Hugo Ekitike.

The Reds found themselves embroiled in something of a transfer standoff with Newcastle United earlier this week after the news broke that they were great admirers of Magpies star Alexander Isak.

The North East club had initially looked to be exploring a bid for Ekitike whilst maintaining their stance that star man Isak is not for sale.



Liverpool then turned their attentions to the 23-year-old Frenchman, with a deal of close to €90 million rumoured to be near completion.

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On the latest episode of our Journo Insight show, we asked the Liverpool Echo’s LFC correspondent, Paul Gorst, for his thoughts on the Ekitike deal.

Paul said:

“Ekitike looks like he’s going to be coming to Liverpool at this stage while we record.

Things can change quickly, can’t they?

“If Liverpool are seeking out Newcastle’s stance at this stage, there must have been some encouragement behind the scenes from Isak’s camp that he would be interested in the move.

“Liverpool would have been frustrated to have seen the news come out that they’d tested the waters with Newcastle, because once it comes out, there’s an expectation among supporters that it’s already a done deal and it’s further along than it is, and that wasn’t necessarily the case.

“I made this point the other day to a colleague that supporters can turn their nose up at £120 million and say, ‘Well, he’s worth 150.’

“Once this offer comes in… that becomes real money, and that’s when it can become tempting, and then that’s when you think maybe you can sell the golden goose and reinvest it strategically in the way that Liverpool did with Coutinho all those years ago.

“It is often prudent to go to the Bundesliga, where you can get these up-and-coming players.

He’s had an unbelievable season, hasn’t he, at Frankfurt?

“Liverpool will be comfortable that, OK, maybe they’re not getting the all-singing, all-dancing Alexander Isak, but they’re getting Ekitike, who could be about to take a similar curve, two years younger.”

REDMEN REACTS

With the futures of Luis Díaz, Federico Chiesa, and Darwin Nunez still very much up in the air, the attacking makeup of Liverpool’s side is by no means set in stone as we approach the start of the 25/26 season.

Rumours linking Alexander Isak with a departure from Newcastle have persisted, and Kopite pulses were set racing earlier this week when it appeared as if the club were about to test the resolve of Eddie Howe and co.

With the interest in Isak firmly rebuffed, Richard Hughes and the LFC hierarchy have turned their attention towards Ekitike, who was one of the most potent attackers in Europe last season.
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